Bartender review
A broad Mac menu bar toolkit for users who need profiles, triggers, widgets, and layouts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Bartender is a paid macOS application for controlling how menu bar items appear and behave. It suits Mac users who want more than basic hiding: the app can rearrange item order and spacing, group several items into one customizable item, reveal hidden items on demand, and search for menu bar items from the keyboard. Its audience is especially likely to include power users managing crowded menu bars, multiple monitors, changing workflows, or a MacBook with a display notch.
The plan structure is straightforward. Bartender 7 includes menu bar management, the Bartender Bar, triggers and widgets, and updates for the current major version. Bartender Pro adds Top Shelf, future Pro tools, and future major version upgrades. Mega Supporter includes everything in Bartender Pro, plus lifetime access, all future upgrades, and every version of Bartender. The published purchase flow also presents a free trial and a 14-day refund. Bartender is paid rather than free, so buyers should choose the tier based on whether current-version access, future major upgrades, or lifetime coverage matters most.
Its standout advantage is breadth within menu bar control. Users can create custom items with widgets and actions, assign keyboard shortcuts, build profiles and presets, automate visibility with triggers, and manage layouts for monitor setups. Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, and Siri extend those controls into broader Mac workflows. That range makes Bartender a strong fit for users who want automation and customization in one menu bar tool. It is less suitable for someone seeking a free utility, a non-Mac option, or only a basic hide-and-reveal function; those users may not need its wider set of profiles, widgets, triggers, and upgrade tiers.
Bartender pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Hides, groups, rearranges, and reveals menu bar items on demand
- Adds profiles, triggers, widgets, hotkeys, and monitor-specific layouts
- Supports MacBook notches, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, and Siri
- Where it doesn't
- Available only for macOS
- No free plan is offered
- Advanced tiers are needed for lifetime access and future upgrades
Bartender fact sheet, pricing and score →
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